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General FreeSpace => FreeSpace Discussion => Topic started by: Terra-jin on August 14, 2009, 12:22:27 pm

Title: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: Terra-jin on August 14, 2009, 12:22:27 pm
Hi everyone,

Long-time fan of FreeSpace series here. I've recently upgraded my system to Vista and now FreeSpace 1 doesn't run anymore. It installed without problems, launcher works, but when I click "play FreeSpace" or when I use the FS.exe nothing happens (by the way, it didn't seem to work with XP, either). I've scoured your fora and wiki for an answer but couldn't find any. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I'd like to play FreeSpace on my new computer!

Thanks in advance,


Terra-jin
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: redsniper on August 14, 2009, 12:25:59 pm
You should look into FreeSpace Open, the new improved open-source FS engine, and the FreeSpace Port, which is FS1 converted to FSOpen.
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: Terra-jin on August 14, 2009, 12:32:16 pm
Yes, I've downloaded FSO (haven't gotten it to work 100% yet). Sound very cool! A lot of hard work must've gone into that...

Anyway, I've downloaded the port, but I still can't get it to work. Do you know where to put the VPs from the FS Port? The readme doesn't say...
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: Galemp on August 14, 2009, 12:36:08 pm
As wonderful as FSPort is, it's not FS1.

Here, have you tried running it in compatibility mode? Right click on FS.exe, go to Properties, then look for Compatibility Mode and try running it in Windows 98 mode.
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: Terra-jin on August 14, 2009, 12:40:47 pm
Hmmm... just tried it and sadly nothing happened. When I run the FS.exe, the mouse cursor becomes "busy" for a moment then returns to normal. The program starts up but is terminated shortly thereafter. Maybe my cd's are corrupt?
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: General Battuta on August 14, 2009, 01:26:18 pm
What's the problem with getting FSOpen running? Do you have retail FS2?

(Not that I don't recognize the value of FS1, mind!)
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: Goober5000 on August 14, 2009, 04:29:03 pm
Hmmm... just tried it and sadly nothing happened. When I run the FS.exe, the mouse cursor becomes "busy" for a moment then returns to normal. The program starts up but is terminated shortly thereafter. Maybe my cd's are corrupt?
Try adding FS.exe to your firewall exceptions.
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: colecampbell666 on August 14, 2009, 08:50:27 pm
As for not getting FSO to work, run the debug build and post /FreeSpace2/data/fs2_open.log.
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on August 15, 2009, 12:35:06 am
What's the problem with getting FSOpen running? Do you have retail FS2?

(Not that I don't recognize the value of FS1, mind!)

I thought the FSPort was standalone. :confused:
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: Locutus of Borg on August 15, 2009, 12:38:36 am
Why play FS1 when you have the FSPort?
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: eliex on August 15, 2009, 12:43:56 am
I thought the FSPort was standalone. :confused:

FSPort has never been standalone, AE.
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: Locutus of Borg on August 15, 2009, 11:10:35 am
But FSO used to be standalone, boy am I glad I got it then. (Otherwise I would have had to pay almost $100 for FS2 as I didn't know about the deal on GOG)
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: Mongoose on August 15, 2009, 11:53:30 am
But FSO used to be standalone, boy am I glad I got it then. (Otherwise I would have had to pay almost $100 for FS2 as I didn't know about the deal on GOG)
Wrong, in a sense.  The open-sourcing of FS2 never allowed for the distribution of the retail game data, and it was never the SCP's intention to do so.  The reason the community looked the other way on providing the game for download before GOG showed up on the scene was, as you said, because the only legally-available copies at the time were going for something like $100 on eBay.

And if you haven't yet purchased a legal copy of the game, I wouldn't exactly brag about that fact.  Now that the game's cheaply available on GOG, we as a community don't look all that kindly on the "Yeah, I never bought it" sentiment.
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: Locutus of Borg on August 15, 2009, 12:24:44 pm
Are you asking me to go and buy a game I already have? o.0 It's not like I went on a torrent site and got it. I got it from the installer here...

There's no need to get antsy.
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: Terra-jin on August 15, 2009, 12:41:27 pm
Hey people,

Thanks for your help. I've gotten the FSO to work now (looks AWESOME!!) but FS port is still giving me problems. I've downloaded the core VP, the mission VP and the hi-res sparky-thingy and put them in one folder, then used that folder as the mod in the FSO launcher.

What happens: it first says that there've been 16 errors, then the game starts (and seem to work). Then when I try to play, the game says it misses 27 ships-files and the campaign file. Strange, because I put both the mission pack and the core files in the folder I'm using for FS port.

Did I miss something in the installation process?
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: Mongoose on August 15, 2009, 12:45:06 pm
Are you asking me to go and buy a game I already have? o.0 It's not like I went on a torrent site and got it. I got it from the installer here...

There's no need to get antsy.
Ah, but there is.  The game was only provided for download in the Installer and elsewhere with the understanding that there was no feasible way to acquire it by legitimate means.  The staff decided that giving people the ability to play the game was worth the technical copyright infringement.  However, when Good Old Games appeared and provided the game as a cheap, DRM-free download, the staff determined that it would be in the community's best interests to remove the download sources and fully endorse GOG.

So yes, I am asking you to buy a game you already have (but do not own), or at least suggesting that you do so as a means of supporting what GOG is doing.  I obviously can't force you to, but if you do choose not to, I'd advise you to not broadcast that fact.
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: Locutus of Borg on August 15, 2009, 12:45:44 pm
Go into the campaing select and make sure you've selected FSPORT not FS2
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: Terra-jin on August 15, 2009, 12:52:49 pm
 :o ah, that has worked. Thanks!
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: Cobra on August 15, 2009, 01:08:35 pm
Uhh. I don't see how FS1 doesn't work on Vista, since it works on my 64-bit 8GB RAM Vista rig. :nervous:
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: Locutus of Borg on August 15, 2009, 01:14:24 pm
Everyone's computer is different, unfortunately.
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: Terra-jin on August 15, 2009, 01:22:33 pm
Uhh. I don't see how FS1 doesn't work on Vista, since it works on my 64-bit 8GB RAM Vista rig. :nervous:
Yeah that's what gets me... somehow this only happens to me :hopping:

Strange thing is, FS2 works just fine :confused:

I'm wondering: how many bytes is your copy of FS.exe? Maybe if mine's different, I'll know my cd's are corrupt.

Mine's 2,15 MB (2.262.016 bytes) and 2,16 MB (2.265.088 bytes) on disc.
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: Cobra on August 15, 2009, 01:23:35 pm
2,226KB, says Windows.
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: Terra-jin on August 15, 2009, 01:25:14 pm
There we go! I knew it :P

Though I don't know for sure if this means my copy is corrupt. Could such a size difference be due to other factors?
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: colecampbell666 on August 15, 2009, 02:17:32 pm
Yup. Try reinstalling.
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: Akalabeth Angel on August 16, 2009, 12:35:50 am
Why play FS1 when you have the FSPort?

FSPort is not FS1. The command briefings are different for one thing. Not saying FSPort is no good but if I want to play FS1 I play FS1 not FSPort.
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: Locutus of Borg on August 16, 2009, 02:12:16 am
They're different?

I didn't notice
Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: deathfun on August 16, 2009, 03:06:51 am
My POS computer managed to run it. Same OS as your second attempt (XP)

My size is 2.27MB and is not corrupt. It's CD as well

Title: Re: FreeSpace 1 won't run on Vista
Post by: Thaeris on August 16, 2009, 11:37:02 pm
Even though I got my copy of FS1 from GOG, it still runs fine on my computer. My computer happens to run on Vista. It did take a while to get it (FS1) working, though.

Check the status of the application with your AV/Firewall. That needs to be in the green first. Next, go to compatibility options. If Vista can do one thing, it can be quite flexible with program compatibility. Right-click for the properties option on the app and apply the appropriate settings. Try a few things... it should work eventually. AND, if it does not, I'll look into my own settings and find preciesly what is making the app tick on my computer. Good luck!

-Thaeris